Combination body cover and stretcher

ABSTRACT

A COMBINATION BODY COVER AND STRETCHER IS DESCRIBED INCLUDING A HOODED FIRE-RESISTANT CAPE ADAPTED TO BE WRAPPED AROUND AN INCAPACITATED FIRE VICTIM AT THE SCENE OF A FIRE IN SUCH A WAY THAT HIS ENTIRE BODY IS PROTECTED UNTIL HE CAN BE CARRIED TO SAFETY. THE CAPE IS PROVIDED WITH HANDLE GRIP MEANS ALONG EACH SIDE FOR USE IN TRANSPORTING THE COVERED VICTIM AS IF HE WERE ON A STRETCHER. THE HOOD HAS A LIFTABLE VISOR PERMITTING EXPOSURE OF THE FACE FOR ADMINISTRATING OXYGEN, PERFORMING RESUCITATION PROCEDURES AND THE LIKE LIFE-SAVING OPERATIONS WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF REMOVING THE ENTIRE HOOD.

Sept. 20, 1971 R. CHERRY COMBINATION BODY COVER AND STRETCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 20, 1970 INVENTOR. P0) L. CHERRY 19 77" ORA/E X R.- L. CHERRY 3,605,119

COMBINATION BODY COVER AND STRETCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 20, 1971 Filed July 20, 1970 INVENTOR R0) 1.. CHEER) M H KM HTTOR/UEX United States Patent "1' fee 3,605,119 COMBINATION BODY COVER AND STRETCHER Roy L. Cherry, 15205 NE. 6th Ave., Miami, Fla. 33161 Filed July 20, 1970, Ser. No. 56,355 Int. Cl. A41d 3/.08 US. Cl. 2-88 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination body cover and stretcher is described including a hooded fire-resistant cape adapted to be wrapped around an incapacitated fire victim at the scene of a fire in such a way that his entire body is protected until he can be carried to safety. The cape is provided with handle grip means along each side for use in transporting the covered victim as if he were on a stretcher. The hood has a liftable visor permitting exposure of the face for administrating oxygen, performing resuscitation procedures and the like life-saving operations without the necessity of removing the entire hood.

This invention relates to rescue equipment and is directed particularly to a combination body cover and stretcher for use in rescue operations in situations involving fire and smoke hazards.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a fire-resistant and heat-reflective hooded cape that not only can be readily applied to an incapacitated injured person in rescuing him from a burning building, vehicle or the like to minimize further injury, but which at the same time serves as a stretcher for removing him to safety so that life-saving treatment can be started with the least possible delay.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a combination body cover and stretcher device of the character described comprising a cape member for enveloping the body of the victim to be rescued and to which is loosely attached a hood member for completely covering the head, and including means for easily securing the hood member to the cape member upon fitting the body cover to the victim. The hood portion is provided with a visor which can be opened from the outside to facilitate life-saving procedures such as the administration of oxygen or the institution of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation techniques. The cape, upon being fitted to the victim, is provided with gripping means appropriately placed along each side for lifting and carrying the covered victim as if he were on a stretcher.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a combination body cover and stretcher of the above nature which will be simple in construction, easy to apply, effective and durable in use, light in weight, readily foldable into a compact package for ready transport and easy storage when not in use, and economical in cost.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like references denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is an outside view of a preferred form of combination body cover and stretcher embodying the invention, the hood and cape members thereof shown in exploded relation and in open and outspread disposition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the device as seen from the inside and with the hood member in its relatively attached position with respect to the cape member;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along 3,605,119 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating mechanical details of the hood and its associated visor mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating details of the hood and visor construction; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view, as seen from the front of the combination body cover and stretcher device shown in its compactly folded condition for transport and storage when not in use.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 designates a preferred form of combination body cover and stretcher embodying the invention, the same being comprised of a cape member 11 loosely attached to the upper end of which is a hood member 12 (see FIG. 2). The cape 11 is fabricated of a fire and heat resistant material, such as of woven glass fiber the outside of which is silvered, such as by being treated with an aluminum paint, so as to be high reflective both of visible and infra-red heat rays.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom portion of the cape member 11 is of substantially rectangular shape, having a straight bottom edge 13 and opposed, upwardlyextending vertical side edges 14 and 15. The upper ends of the vertical side edges 14 and 15 extend into opposed, arcuately-inwardly-curved upper edge portions 16 and 17. The upper end of the cape member 11 is defined by a concavely-arcuate upper edge 18, the ends of which extend into the upper ends of the respective edge portions 16 and 17. Sewn along the edges 14 and 16 at one side of the cape and 15, 17 at the other side of the cape are respective mating zipper strips, 19, 19a for enclosing the cape member in enveloping position about the body of a victim, as is hereinbelow more particularly described. As best illustrated in FIG. 1 the zipper strip 19 is fitted with a zipper slide member 20 for closing and opening the zipper 19, 19a, which zipper slide member is provided with a zipper pull loop 21 facilitating actuation of the zipper. Pull loop 22, 23 are sewn or otherwise secured to the opposed upper corners of the cape member 11 to aid in the manual application of the cape structure to the body of a victim to be covered.

As is further best illustrated in FIG. 1, the outside of the cape member 11 has sewn or otherwise securely afiixed thereto, in symmetrical relation to each side of the vertical center of the cape, an upper pair of handle loops 24, 25, an intermediate pair of handle loops 26, 27, and a lower pair of handle loops 28, 29, which loops, when the cape structure is fitted to the victim in enveloping relation, will be appropriately positioned to be used as hand grips for carrying the victim from the scene of his injury.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the inside of the cape member 11 has sewn or otherwise afiixed thereto, in vertically-extending central relation from the upper edge 18, a strap 30, the outer face of which, in spaced relation with respect to said edge, has afiixed thereto a strip of pressure-sensitive tape 31. The strap 30 extends beyond the strip 31 to terminate in a handle loop 32, said strip and said handle grip being utilized for securing the body cover device in compacted transporting and storing condition, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and as hereinbelow more particularly described.

The hood member 12, which is also preferably fabricated of a flexible heat and fire resistant fabric such as aluminized Woven glass fiber, is formed with a convexlyrounded lower edge 33, a central lower portion of which is attached to a central portion of the upper edge 18 of the cape member 11 as by a line of stitching 34 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). It is to be noted, as illustrated in FIG. 2, that the lower edge 3-3 of the hood member 12 overlaps the upper edge 18 of the cape member 11 to minimize the possibility of entry of smoke or heat into the cape assemblage when applied to the victim. It is also to be noted, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, that the hood member 12, when outstretched, is generally in the shape of a segment of a circle, with the chord portion to the top. The upper edge of the hood member, as defined by the chord, has sewn therealong, extending outwardly to each side of the middle, mating zipper strips 35, 35a, respectively. A zipper slide member 36 is equipped with a loop handle 37 is provided for closing the opposed upper edges of the hood member 12 at the back of the victims head upon use of the body cover device. In order to securely retain side portions of the hood member 12 securely in place with respect to the cape member '11 upon the fitting of the body cover to the body of the victim, pressure-sensitive adhesive strips 38, 39 are secured to the outside of said cape member at each side thereof for attachment, respec tively, to cooperative strips 40, 41, respectively, provided at the inside of said cape member along opposed marginal portions of the concavely-arcuate upper edge 18 thereof. The cooperative pressure-sensitive strips, 38, 40 and 39, 41, as well as the above-described pressure-sensitive tape or strip 31, are preferably of the flexible fabric type wherein a multiplicity of hook-like elements on one strip hookingly interengage with a fleecy fabric comprising the mating strip. Such pressure-sensitive mating strips are manufactured by the American Thread Company of Chicago, 111., under their trade name Velcro.

Centrally arranged within the hood member 12 is a relatively rigid, outwardly-protruding face mask 42, said mask comprising a relatively stiff face frame member 43 comprising a curved upper wall or forehead portion 44 and a lower wall or chin portion 45, integrally formed with opposed side-wall or check portions 46, 47, together defining a substantially rectangular face opening 48. The insides of the upper and lower portions 44, 45 of the face frame member 43 are lined with thick, synthetic sponge head and chin pads 49, 50, respectively. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, arcuate upper and lower face abutment bands '51, 52 are fixed to the face frame member 43 as by machine screws 53, said bands extending outwardly of the central opening 48 at the upper and lower ends thereof. The bands 51, 52 are covered with a layer of a soft fabric, such as flannel, as indicatedat 54 in FIG. 4. The fabric portion of the hood member 12 is provided with a rectangular opening against the inside of which the face frame member '43 is secured with its rectangular opening 48 in register therewith, the attachment thereto of said face frame member preferably being by a plurality of peripherally-disposed rivets 55. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, forwardly-extending brackets 56, 57 at each side of the mask near the upper end thereof, are attached to respective side wall portions 46, 47 of the face frame member 43, near the upper end thereof, as by machine screws 58. As so attached, the brackets 58 aid substantially in the attachment of the hood member fabric to the relatively stiff hood face frame member 43. The forwardly-extending brackets 56, 57 are formed with outwardly-offset, forwardly-extending end portions 59, 60, respectively, swingably journalled with respect thereto being a transparent visor 61. The visor 61 is preferably formed of a curved plate of a transparent, shock-resistant and heat-resistant material such as Plexiglas fitted with metal reinforcing and support channels 62, 63 along each side, the upper ends of which are pivotally attached to the outwardly-offset portions 59, 60 of the brackets 56, 57 by respective bolts 64. 65.

To minimize the possibility of the entrance of smoke, etc., along the gap at the uper end of the visor 61, said visor has cemented or otherwise affixed thereto along an upper outside marginal portion thereof, an arcuate apron 66 extending upwardly over the top central portion of thc hood 12 and being attached thereto at each side such as by snap-fasteners 67. A loop strip 68 attached at its upper end to the hood member fabric above the upper wall portion 44 of the face frame member 43 and extending through a slit 69 in the apron 66 passes centrally downwardly in front of the visor 61 to terminate at the lower end of said visor where it is attached by machine screws 70. The machine screws 70 are also utilized to attach a catch lever mechanism 71 having a pivotally-journalled catch lever 72 operative to releasably engage a horizontal catch bar 73 attached through the hood fabric to the lower wall portion 45 of the face frame member 43 as by nuts 74 (only one shown in FIG. 4). The downwardly-extending loop strip 68 has secured along the outside thereof a pressure-sensitive fabric strip 75 cooperative with the pressure-sensitive strip 31 comprising part of the strap 30 of the cape member 11 for securing the body cover device in compactly-folded condition, as illustrated in FIG. 5, for transport and storage when not in use.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the inside of the fabric portion of the hood member 12, at each side of the face frame member 43 near the lower end thereof, has sewn or otherwise attached thereto outwardly-extending securing straps 76, 77, respectively, the inside of the strap 76 having applied thereto a pressure-sensitive strip 78 and the outside of the strap 77 having applied thereto a cooperative pressure-sensitive strip 79, said pressure-sensitive strips also preferably being of Velcro, as described above.

In the use of the combination cover and stretcher device embodying the invention, the open cape member will be placed over the front of the victims body with the sides brought around to the back so that the mating zipper strips 19, 19a, can be closed from top to bottom by use of the zipper pull-loop 21. Thereafter, the hood member 12 will be folded up over the head of the victim so that his head can be placed within the padded face mask 42. The cooperative pressure-sensitive straps 76, 77 will then be stretched in overlapping and attached relation behind the head of the victim to retain it in proper position within the mask. Next, the fabric side portions of the hood member will be carried around to meet at the back of the head, whereupon the mating zipper strips 35, 35a of the hood can be secured together by pulling down upon the zipper slide 36 with the zipper slide loop handle 37. At the same time, the mating pressure sensitive strips 38, 40 and 39, 41 between the hood and cape members will be secured together to minimize the possibility of leakage of smoke or other hot gases into the body cover structure.

After the body cover has been applied to the victim as described above, the visor 61 can readily be unlatched and swung open simply by pulling outwardly upon the catch lever 72 to rotate it in the counter-clockwise direction (as illustrated in FIG. 4) and thereby disengage it from the catch-bar 73. Further outward and upward pulling upon the catch lever 72 will cause the visor to rotate about its pivot bolts 64, 65 to open the mask and thereby provide access to the victims face for administering oxygen or instituting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or such other first-aid measures as may be appropriate in the circumsatnces. It will be noted that the handle loop pairs 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28, 29 along the outside of the cape member 11 at each side thereof are appropriately placed to be grasped by rescue personnel at each side for carrying the victim to safety in much the same manner as one would transport an incapacitated person on a stretcher.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen how the combination body cover and stretcher member embodying the invention can conveniently be folded into a compact package for transport and storage when not in use. To accomplish this, the otustretched sides of the cape and hood members 11, 12, respectively will first be rolled inwardly toward the center. The rolled hood portions will then be secured in compactly-rolled position against the opposite sides of the face mask 42 by looping the securing straps 76, 77 over the front of the face mask, where they will be attached together by use of their associated pressure-sensitive strips. The sidewardly-rolled cape fabric portions will then be rolled or folded up together against the underside of the face mask 42, to be secured in place by carrying the attachment strap 30 upwardly and over the loop strip 68 at the front of the face mask for securing their pressure-sensitive strips together. A carrying loop 80 affixed to the top or apex portion of the hood member 12 provides a convenient means for carrying the folded device.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which my invention can be conveniently embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is given by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be noted that while I have described the body cover member as being applied to a victim after an accident involving fire and/or heat, the device could also be worn routinely by those in occupations involving fire hazards, such as by military Air Force personnel participating in hazardous flight missions. The invention, in brief, comprises all the modifications and embodiments coming Within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A combination body cover and stretcher comprising a cape member of a fire resistant fabric, means for securing said cape member in enveloping relation about a human body from the neck down, a hood member comprising a fire resistant fabric portion and a face mask portion, means for securing said hood member in enclosing relation about the head of a human body with the face fitted within said mask portion, means for securing a lower end marginal portion of said hood member to upper end marginal portions of said cape member when fitted to a human body to be covered, and hand grip means along the outside of said cape member for lifting and carrying a person fitted within said combination body cover and stretcher device.

2. A combination body covering structure as defined in claim :1, wherein said cape member, when out-stretched, is substantially symmetrical in form from top to bottom and is defined by opposed side edges extending vertically upwardly from the lower edge to substantially midway along the length, and thence extending arcuately inwardly to terminate in spaced relation at the upper end of the cape member, and wherein said cape securing means comprises mating zipper members provided along said opposed side edges.

3. A combination body covering structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the upper end of said cape member, between the opposed upper ends of said side edges, is of concavely arcuate configuration.

4. A combination body covering structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said fabric portion of said hood member, when out-stretched, is substantially in the peripheral shape of a segment of a circle, and wherein said hood securing means comprises means for permanently securing a relatively short central marginal zone at the lower end of said hood member fabric portion in overlapping relation with respect to a central marginal top edge portion of said cape member.

5. A combination body covering structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said means for securing said hood member further comprises a pair of mating zipper members extending along the upper chord edge of said hood member fabric portion, outwardly to each side of a central portion thereof.

6. A combination body covering structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said means for securing said hood member to said cape member further comprises mating pressure-sensitive attachment strip means between overlapping face-to-face marginal edge portions of said cape member and said fabric portion of said hood member when fitted in covering and secured relation about the body of a person.

7. A combination body covering structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said mask portion comprises a transparent visor and mechanism for lifting said visor to permit exposure of the face of a person whose head is fitted within said mask portion.

8. A combination body covering structure as defined in claim 7, wherein said fire resistant fabric of said case member and said fire resistant fabric of said mask portion are of woven glass fiber cloth treated on the outside with a heat reflective coating.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 872,404 12/1907 Burch 289X 1,252,628 l/1918 Terry 289 1,758,323 5/1930 Korlf 289 3,096,759 7/1963 Coolbaugh 288X RICHARD J. SCANLAN, 111., Primary Examiner 

